IndiGo Flight Chaos: Delhi HC Demands Proof of Refunds; Airline Fined ₹22 Crore for December Meltdown

It’s Friday, January 23, 2026, and if you’re one of the three lakh people whose travel plans were shredded by IndiGo back in December, the Delhi High Court just put the airline on the clock.

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The thing is, we’re finally seeing the fallout of that “meltdown” where 2,500 flights were cancelled in just 72 hours. Or nothing.

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The Courtroom Grilling: Field Notes

It’s an ongoing situation where the airline is trying to prove it’s playing fair, but the judges aren’t totally sold on the math. Here’s the ground reality from the hearing on Thursday:

• The ₹10,000 Voucher Trap: IndiGo’s counsel told the Bench they’re handing out ₹10,000 travel vouchers to the “most severely impacted.” But here’s the kicker—the petitioner pointed out these things have an expiry date. The Chief Justice was blunt: What happens if the passenger can’t use it in a year? Does the money just vanish? The counsel had no answer and has to file an affidavit in two weeks to explain. Those too.

• The “Sealed Cover” Secrets: The government handed over a secret report from the inquiry committee. Let’s be real—the DGCA has already slammed IndiGo with a ₹22.2 crore penalty for this. The thing is, the probe found they were “over-optimizing” and stretching pilots way too thin. Or nothing.

• Heads Rolling: This isn’t just about fines. The court was told the Senior VP of Operations has been directed to be removed, and the CEO and COO have been slapped with formal warnings. It’s an ongoing situation where the airline has to cough up a ₹50 crore bank guarantee just to prove they won’t let this chaos happen again.

• The Refund Reality Check: IndiGo claims the refunds for the December 3–5 chaos are “processed.” But the thing is, if you’re still waiting for your cash, you’re supposed to use a new “dedicated compensation website” they’ve launched. Or nothing.

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IndiGo Crisis Timeline & Legal Status (Jan 2026)

And Here’s the Kicker…

The thing is, IndiGo is currently operating under a “relaxation” on pilot duty hours that expires on February 10. Let’s be real—the industry is holding its breath to see if the airline has actually hired enough pilots to survive the next shift in rules. If they haven’t, we could be looking at “December Chaos 2.0” in three weeks. Those too.

One side comment—the petitioner argued that ₹10,000 in vouchers is an “insufficient” joke for people who missed weddings or organ transplant windows. It’s an ongoing situation where the court might force a cash-only compensation rule. Or nothing.

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End…

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